Title : Blaschkolinear dermatoses : a potpourri
Abstract:
Linear lesions are fairly common in our daily practice. However, the appearance of these lesions can vary, thus complicating the diagnosis. They act as diagnostic clues to many dermatological conditions, therefore, the importance of meticulous examination in clinical dermatology cannot be overemphasized. We conducted an institution-based, cross-sectional, descriptive study of 281 consecutive patients with linear lesions attending dermatology clinics. MedCalc software (V11.6) was used for statistical analysis. We came across numerous cases of linear lichen planus, lichen striatus, incontinentia pigmentii etc., and noticed an interesting pattern (to be discussed in the presentation). Apart from the common cases, there was a wide gamut of rare conditions (e.g. angiokeratoma circumscriptum naeviforme, porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct naevus, Blaschko-linear syringocystadenoma papilliferum, progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation, unilateral naevoid acanthosis nigricans, fixed drug eruption, discoid lupus erythematosus). Therefore, linearity of a lesion can spark the synaptic flashpoint for the diagnosis of numerous conditions, provided we are aware of the same (common or uncommon).
